Gebel Kamil is a meteorite that struck Egypt about 5000 years ago leaving a crater surrounded by thousands of pieces of iron shrapnel with a total weight of about 1,600 kilograms (3,500 lb).[2]

Gebel Kamil
Some pieces of the Gebel Kamil iron meteorite.
Type	Iron
Structural classification	Ataxite[1]
Group	Ungrouped[2]
Composition	Nickel 19.7%[1]
Country	Egypt[2]
Region	Al Wadi al Jadid, East Uweinat Desert
Coordinates	22°01′06″N 26°05′16″E[2]
Observed fall	No[2]
Found date	2009-02-19[2]
TKW	1,600 kilograms (3,500 lb)[2]
Strewn field	Yes
A slice of the Gebel Kamil meteorite showing schreibersite rimmed by kamacite.
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History

In February 2009 and 2010, meteorite fragments with masses ranging from < 1 gram (0.035 oz) to 35 kilograms (77 lb), plus an 83 kilograms (183 lb) specimen, were found in and around a 45 metres (148 ft) radius from Kamil Crater by an Italian-Egyptian geophysical team.[2] About 800 kilograms (1,800 lb) was recovered.[2] The geophysical survey took place as part of the "2009 Italian-Egyptian Year of Science and Technology".[2]

Mineralogy

The Gebel Kamil meteorite contains the minerals schreibersite and kamacite.

Classification

The Gebel Kamil meteorite has been classified as an ataxite.

See also

• 2008 TC3
• Glossary of meteoritics

References